We're happy that you've visited the new ROH site. The primary purpose of the website is to generate interest for, spread knowledge about, and help facilitate volunteering for Rhythm of Hope.

Rhythm of Hope, Inc. is a newly formed American nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of people in marginalized communities around the world. Rhythm of Hope (ROH) works with some well-know programs in Brazil and some that no one has ever heard of. Some of these programs help to stabilize communities and almost all of them improve the life chances of desperately poor children and, in some cases, adults. Programs like Circo Picolino and Projeto Didá have been highly successful but are always on the very edge of survival. Performing in Bahia's annual Carnival strengthens the dignity and self-esteem of the women and girls at Didá, who are targeted by sexual tourism. The core of Circo Picolino's professional performing artists and circus arts instructors arrived as black favela children from Projeto Axé 18 years ago. Didá and Picolino and, to an even greater extent, little programs like Arte Consciente which are so vital to the life chances of favela (slum) youth in Brazil, are locked in a constant struggle for survival.

Do the Blog -  The Latest from the Chronicles of Felipe do Brasil!              

Click below to catch up on the latest from Phillip on the Rhythm of Hope blog:

                      

Rhythm of Hope is hard at work and needs your help!!

Rhythm of Hope has been at work in one form or another, through founder Phillip Wagner and others, since 1996. We became a formal organization in 2004, registered in the state of Georgia in 2008 and filed and become approved for 501c3 federal nonprofit status.

Brazil, in particular, is important to us because Brazil is in our own back yard! In spite of an economic boom making world headlines the need for our work there has noteven begun to diminish. The reason? UN data reveals that Brazil remains, in spite of the boom, remains the nation with the greatest disparity between wealth and poverty in the world.

From rural communities where residents like Sylvia (above) and her children construct their own hovels from earth and sticks to densely populated urban favelas where highly motivated you are constructing a community center (below) to work with children there, theneeds are great. But a key reason we focus so intentlyon Brazil, and mostparticularly on the Afro-Brazilian cultural epicenter, is the institutionalized culture there of people helping themselves.

We’re fond of saying that we’re all about helping people who help themselves, and we talk a lot about the need to maintain stability in geo-political regions important to our national security Well, here’s your chance to help us help people help themselves in a geo-political region intensely important to our own national security – a nation which represents half the territory and population of South America. What will you do to help us?

Catch up on the latest from Phillip (Felipe do Brazil) on his new Rhythm of Hope blog at: http://rhythmofhope.spaces.live.com/.

 

Then click below to donate or write to us now at info@rhythmofhope.com or to Phillip directly at Phillip@rhythmofhope.org to say you want to help in an even more substantial way.

 

                                                 

After 12 years, counting nearly nine when co-founder Phillip Wagner was working practically alone, a growing Rhythm of Hope is becoming officially registered. Rhythm of Hope, Inc. is a newly forming 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that works to facilitate grassroots social projects and programs in marginalized communities around the world. 

Current examples include:

• A 2008 rural community clean water and sanitationinfrastructure project involving - at our request – Engineers without Borders,

• Support for the remarkable work of five young men which has stabilized a once violent favela (slum), 

• Collaborating with a large group of public health oriented volunteers from Maryland to schedule and conduct health fairs and clinics for the poor,

• Working with a cultural institute to promote education.

• Connecting volunteers from more than 40 countries with a program serving women and girls from the streets and desperately poor neighborhoods -- all in Brazil! 

Rhythm of Hope is also already providing some support for an orphanage in India, and will become active in Africa in 2009. We are currently in the federal review process to receive our nonprofit status and this is our Kick-Off Fundraising Event! Our goal is $10,000. Support us in reaching our goal and help to improve the lives of children around the world.

Understanding our approach and who we are

Anyone can make a difference, but more will be accomplished as more people become involved. Helping people help people is our primary goal. We call that facilitation, “making it possible.” But good intentions are not enough. Our efforts to improve the world must be “constructive,” they must appropriately serve the interests of people they are intended to help. Efforts, therefore, must be “constructive,” they must help people achieve their own goals, and realize their own dreams - not ours, or yours. Interactions between people are “social.”  Rhythm of Hope pursues constructive social facilitation.

Rhythm of Hope tries to help potential volunteers (and benefactors) find a program to work with. Potential volunteers should not expect - although it could be the case - to secure a well-structured opportunity. Volunteers should be able to handle some chaos and be creative.

Rhythm of Hope facilitates - we try to make connections or introductions for people who want to volunteer, sponsor a program, or publicize needs or programs. We offer some useful information about Brazil and programs in Brazil working to help the less fortunate.

Listen to Phillip's Interview on Bloomington Community Radio WFHB

 

Click here to listen

Host Jeffrey Miller interviews Phillip Wagner, storyteller and founder of Rhythm of Hope. Rhythm of Hope is a non-governmental organization that uses constructive social facilitation to create meaningful connections among non-profit agencies in Brazil and funders worldwide. Miller and Wagner discuss the evolution of Wagner’s life and work leading to the founding of the organization, its use of constructive social facilitation, and the pedagogical approaches of the innovative non-profits working with Rhythm of Hope. The principle is that of evolutionary street pedagogy, a three-stage process designed to engage the children living in the favelas (poor neighborhoods) of Brazil. They conclude with a dialogue on how these approaches can be translated into Western educational approaches and provide opportunities for the listener to get involved.